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Several national leading brands including Nature Made, Kashi, LeapFrog, and Nestle Purina, are partnering with RecycleBank to show new ways to reward consumers for their environmental actions, while promoting America Recycles Day on November 15. In addition, two U.S. representatives, supported by several environmental groups, introduce new legislation to stop U.S. recyclers from dumping electronic waste (e-waste) on developing countries.

To promote the holiday and inform consumers about the importance of recycling, RecycleBank, joined by Nature Made, Kashi, LeapFrog and Nestle Purina’s Friskies and Fancy Feast Gourmet Cat Food, which collectively represent four of the major areas of recyclable materials — plastic, paper, electronics and metal, respectively, plan to launch several digital and social media initiatives aimed at educating and motivating consumers to recycle.

Here are a few of the programs:

–LeapFrog’s “Trade Up to Explorer” recycling rewards program: Recycle used LeapFrog handheld systems through RecycleBank’s Website or at Best Buy to earn discounts on the new Leapster Explorer platform.

In other recycling news, U.S. Representatives Gene Green and Mike Thompson introduced new legislation, the Responsible Electronics Recycling Act of 2010, to stop U.S. “recyclers” from dumping electronic waste on developing countries. The bill is supported by environmental groups as well as electronic manufacturers Apple, Dell, and Samsung, all of which have policies that prohibit the export of e-waste to developing nations.

A growing number of states have enacted electronics recycling laws to address the lack of a national approach, raising concerns about a patchwork of state requirements, according to a new federal study from the Government Accountability Office (GAO). Currently, 23 states have enacted some form of electronics recycling legislation. The study also reveals that one of the biggest issues that still need to be addressed is the export of e-waste.

The bill adds a new section to the federal Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) laws establishing a new category of “restricted electronic waste” which cannot be exported from the U.S. to developing nations. Non-hazardous or tested and working electronic products or parts are not restricted.

Other exemptions from the restrictions are:

–Products under warranty being returned to the manufacturing facility that made them